The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-30
GEN. GORDON IN ONO.

right hand, is the one man
who, above all others, could safely
be selected TO speak for the people OF the
south and the interests Of the south before
n northern audience. Entering the Con-
iedcnte army while still very young
man, Just on the threshold Of life, Gen.
Gordon fought his way up from the hum
bic status OF captain OF infantry
10 the high position Of commander
Of Lees advance. Ills guns were the last
TO cease firing" his buglcs were the last
20 sound the truce, the everlasting truce
between the sections. He fought until all
was lost save honor, and he was n witness
and u participant In the memorable scene
Of final surrender, when the brave men who
had ~ long upheld the fame and name
al the Army Of Northern Virginia gave
way like children TO tears, and broke the
swords that were vulors sacred symbol.
lie realized then, IA ho realized again on
Wednesday lasl, that sentiment is the
largest quantity in human nature, that IL
isthc one human constituent which clcutcs
man above the brute, and enables him to
unite with his fellow in sorrow or in joy.
II was the surging tide oi sentiment in
him that mndo the character Of Abraham
Lincoln al that We now know il 10 have
been iall 81 tenderness and compassion,
guided by an honorable ami honest
purpose To do his duty rs God
gave him 10 see that duty. Il was
this sentiment this supreme aud dominat-
ing quantity Ia Mr. Lincoln, that enabled
him 10 rise superior to the civil war and
the passions BORN Of il, aud speak Of the
people Of the south ~ his misguided fell
low ciiilcns." Large and generous in his
views Of things, close aud intimate stu.
dent OF human nature, ho could
not be- touched by the corrosive
sublima,e OF partisan hate. llo
kept his soul clear above the
taint Of dirt, and WIS never, up To his
deaths day, the elect or select Of the poll
ticians They hated hun for his purity Of
character, and they held him In contempt
because he was "honcst Abe" How does
the world rate him now Does II
rail nj him because Of his sen
iimcnt, aud mock ut him because Of his
honestly No. II treasures all his char
acicrsiics ~ those Of u great man, OF wiso
man, u strong man, and hunn~s his
greatness, his wisLoDa, and his strength
wis the us.asia 81 his deep, his profound
sympathy with the people "with malice
toward none" WIS ever In his heart aud
upon his lips, aud "wish charity for
, all" Surely the people Of the
: south can take example Of this superb aud
? VIII balanced character, q man In whom
thcm was the most happy blending of
humor and pithus, aud, while they swear
eternal icaliy Ia the Union aud rejoice
thai the starry emblem still tells the story
II united soycrigniics, give an hour, q
day or week, to the memory u the
hcrrcs who arc immortal ior all time
~ thoae who have sralcd their love
oi communal liberty with their lives.
How beautiful l. the sentiment that takes
the mother 10 the grave II her child, the
husband IN that oi his Wiic' What h the
kernel aud heart II nll religious faith but
a sentiment What is the loycoi husband
, for wife or wife for husband bat q scnli.
mcn7 Il them anything NOM acrrd'
What II patriotism hut a scnii,
mcnt1 What Is them bui sentiment In the
blending oi the colors HAT make the mod
q beautiful ilag that floats today upon the
; carhg II WI. the sentiment II union
that made the grai armies Ut the north
stand -icaiiisi a. the cni III gigantic
and awful struggle II WIS the sentiment
oi State autonomy that held the south.
cm States together until the last man
and the Lost dollar hal been expended
A., II II the sentiment 81 common su1rrings,
and common dingrr that make, them
solid today They ar In and 1T the Union,
aud find al their political hopes
within In limits. They have M de-
sin 10 be- In any scnsc iurign
Ia its constitution OF al cnmily with It's
! laws They uv honorably pledged To its
a integrity. And what man h them worthy
= 81 manhood anywhere Who viii qucs.
I ton the honor ~ the word Of a pcoplc Who
: gave an that they had Il property and nj
. human tie 10 secure their independence
2 Il was lev thousands OF this
o people who In Macon ON "Wednesday be-.
4 came young again in prcscncc Of q man
and Gag They wept aud pmlcl ~
q those 10 Who arc convicted u The jeopardy
y Of their souls. they wcpi ~ those do Who
o arr confronted by great sorrow. Law
n me alone with my dead, said noble
a ma,ron, looking upon the closed eyes that
:. were wont 10 mirror her own JOY
y The brave Gcorgians only ask this
q nothing morc. They carr nothing
4 for the human shouls Who NAV